Funding for councils for drought relief projects

Last Updated: 25 March 2020

The Drought Communities Programme - Extension provides councils with up to either $1 million or $500,000 per announcement for drought relief projects. Funding is available for eligible councils in areas impacted by drought.

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Drought Communities Programme – Extension

The Drought Communities Programme - Extension provides councils with up to either $1 million or $500,000 per announcement for drought relief projects. Funding is available for eligible councils in areas impacted by drought.

The maximum available funding for eligible councils announced in January 2020 is in two tiers:

Tier one - maximum funding available up to $1 million

Tier two - maximum funding available up to $500,000

Open

Application detail:

Applications close:

1 June 2020 for councils announced during the 2019 election campaign

1 June 2020 for councils announced in September 2019

1 December 2020 for councils announced in November 2019

1 June 2021 for councils announced in January 2020.

Applications are now closed for councils announced in 2018 and March 2019.

What do you get?

Up to $1 million or $500,000 (depending on the funding announcement) for local community infrastructure and other drought relief projects.

Who is this for?

Eligible councils listed below and invited by the Minister to apply.

Overview

The extension of the Drought Communities Programme provides funding of $301 million to eligible councils for drought-affected regions of Australia. The program supports local community infrastructure and other drought relief projects for communities impacted by drought.

Funding targets projects that:

provide work for people whose employment has been impacted by drought

stimulate local community spending

use local resources, businesses and suppliers

provide a long-lasting benefit to communities and the agricultural industries they depend on

Eligibility

What are the eligibility criteria?

To be eligible, you must:

have an Australian business number (ABN) and

be an eligible council listed on this page (and on GrantConnect) or

be invited to apply by the Minister

Eligible projects

To be eligible, your project must:

be in an eligible council area

meet project requirements

include eligible activities and expenditure

have at least $25,000 per application in eligible expenditure

You must complete your project by:

30 June 2019 for eligible councils announced in 2018

31 December 2019 for eligible councils announced in March 2019

30 June 2020 for eligible councils announced during the 2019 election campaign

30 June 2020 for the eligible councils approved for funding in September 2019

31 December 2020 for the eligible councils approved for funding in November 2019

30 June 2021 for eligible councils approved for funding in January 2020

For more information on eligibility and project requirements, check the grant opportunity guidelines.

Eligible councils

The following councils are eligible based on need and the economic impact of drought in the region.

We assess this using:

rainfall deficiency data from the Bureau of Meteorology

population and industry data – particularly reliance on agriculture

The Government monitors drought conditions across the country and may add more councils depending on conditions.

New South Wales

Armidale Regional

Federation

Murrumbidgee

Balranald

Forbes

Musellbrook

Bathurst Regional

Gilgandra

Narrabri

Bega Valley

Glen Innes Severn Shire

Narrandera

Berrigan

Greater Hume

Narromine

Bland

Gunnedah

Oberon

Blayney

Gwydir

Parkes

Bogan

Hay

Richmond Valley

Bourke

Hilltops

Snowy Monaro

Brewarrina

Inverell

Tamworth Regional

Broken Hill

Junee

Temora

Cabonne

Kempsey

Tenterfield

Carrathool

Kyogle

Unincorporated Far West

Central Darling

Lachlan

Upper Hunter

Clarence Valley

Leeton

Upper Lachlan

Cobar

Lismore

Uralla

Coolamon

Lithgow

Walcha

Coonamble

Lockhart

Walgett

Cootamundra-Gundagai

Liverpool Plains

Warren

Cowra

Mid-Western Regional

Warrumbungle

Dubbo Regional

Moree Plains

Weddin

Edward River

Murray River

Wentworth

Northern Territory

Barkly

Central Desert

Queensland

Balonne

Flinders

Quilpie

Banana

Goondiwindi

Richmond

Barcaldine

Lockyer Valley

Scenic Rim

Barcoo

Longreach

Somerset

Blackall Tambo

Maranoa

South Burnett

Boulia

McKinlay

Southern Downs

Bulloo

Murweh

Toowoomba

Bundaberg

North Burnett

Western Downs

Diamantina

Paroo

Winton

South Australia

Adelaide Plains

Goyder

Peterborough

Alexandrina

Kangaroo Island

Port Pirie City and District

Barossa

Karoonda East Murray

Renmark Paringa

Barunga West

Kimba

Southern Mallee

Berri Barmera

Light*

Streaky Bay

Ceduna

Loxton Waikerie

Tatiara

Clare and Gilbert Valleys

Mid Murray

The Coorong

Cleve

Mount Remarkable

Unincorporated Far North SA

Copper Coast

Murray Bridge

Wakefield

Flinders Ranges

Northern Areas

Wudinna

Franklin Harbour

Orroroo/Carrieton

Yorke Peninsula

Tasmania

Break O Day

Devonport

Glamorgan Spring Bay

Victoria

Benalla

Glamorgan Spring Bay

Strathbogie

Break O Day

Greater Shepparton

Swan Hill

Buloke

Latrobe

Wangaratta

Devonport

Mildura

Wellington

East Gippsland

Moira

Yarriambiack

Gannawarra

Pyrenees

Western Australia

Albany

Denmark

Lake Grace

Beverley

Donnybrook-Balingup

Mingenew*

Bridgetown-Greenbushes

Dumbleyung*

Moora

Brookton*

Esperance

Nannup

Broomhill-Tambellup

Gnowangerup

Narembeen*

Bruce Rock*

Irwin

Pingelly

Busselton

Jerramungup

Plantagenet

Carnamah*

Katanning

Quairading

Coorow

Kellerberrin

Ravensthorpe

Corrigin

Kent*

Three Springs*

Cranbrook

Kojonup

Wickepin*

Dandaragan

Kulin*

*Indicates an LGA with a population of less than 1,000 and funding of up to $500,000. Funding for all other LGAs is up to $1 million.

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Applying

How do you apply?

You will receive an invitation to apply with a link to our online portal. The portal allows you to apply for and manage a grant in a secure online environment. You’ll need to set up a user account to get access.

You should read the grant opportunity guidelines and sample grant agreement before you apply.

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How do we assess your application?

We’ll assess your application against the eligibility criteria. To be recommended for funding, you must meet all eligibility criteria. The program delegate will make the final decision.

Note: An invitation to apply doesn’t guarantee that your application will be successful.

What happens next?

If you’re successful, we’ll email you and include any specific conditions for your grant.

If you’re unsuccessful, we’ll email you and give you an opportunity to discuss the outcome with us.

Successful applicants must enter into a grant agreement with the Commonwealth.

We’ll pay an initial amount after you’ve signed the agreement. We’ll then make payments in advance, based on your predicted expenses as you complete milestones. Payments will depend on your progress. We’ll adjust payments if you have unspent money from previous payments.

We’ll set aside 10% of the total funding for the final payment. We’ll pay this when you submit a satisfactory final report.

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